Method, apparatus and program storage device for providing web services-based data replication for Heterogeneous storage systems

Abstract

A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing web services-based data replication for heterogeneous storage systems. A web services interface is provided in a storage subsystem to provide access of replication functions of the storage subsystem by a remote requesting agent. The web services interface may also authenticate a remote requesting agent and data encryption to ensure privacy. The web services interface may also break the volume being replicated into junks of a predetermined size for later merging to form the volume at the remote requesting agent.

1 . A storage subsystem, comprising: 
 at least one storage device; and    a web services interface, the web services interface being configured to perform web initiable storage functions of the at least one storage device.    
   
   
       2 . The storage subsystem of  claim 1 , wherein the web services interface is further configured to publish a description of services associated with the at least one storage device that may be accessed via the web services interface.  
   
   
       3 . The storage subsystem of  claim 2 , wherein the web services interface publishes the description of services to a central registry.  
   
   
       4 . The storage subsystem of  claim 1 , wherein the web services interface is configured to authenticate a requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       5 . The storage subsystem of  claim 1 , wherein the web services interface is configured to encrypt data provided to a requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       6 . The storage subsystem of  claim 1 , wherein the functions comprises replication of data of the at least one storage device to a requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       7 . The storage subsystem of  claim 6 , wherein the web services interface is configured to break the volume being replicated into junks of a predetermined size for later merging to form the volume at the requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       8 . The storage subsystem of  claim 1  further comprising proprietary functions inaccessible via the web services interface.  
   
   
       9 . The storage subsystem of  claim 1 , wherein the web services interface is configured to initiate storage functions at a remote storage subsystem.  
   
   
       10 . The storage subsystem of  claim 1 , wherein the web services interface further comprises means for enabling web initiable services associated with the at least one storage device to be performed in response to communication with a remote storage subsystem.  
   
   
       11 . A method for performing a remote storage activity, comprising: 
 identifying a storage subsystem having a web services interface for providing access to a web initiable storage function;    coupling to the identified storage system via a network using a network protocol; and    initiating execution of the web initiable storage function.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the identifying a storage subsystem further comprises: 
 sending a query to a central registry requesting information regarding storage subsystems having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions; and    receiving a response identifying a storage subsystem having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising publishing by a storage subsystem at a registry a web services interface identifying web initiable storage functions.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising recording web service interfaces published by storage subsystems.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the identifying a storage subsystem further comprises: 
 receiving a query at the registry requesting information regarding storage subsystems having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions; and    sending a response identifying a storage subsystem having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions based upon the recorded web services interfaces published by storage subsystems.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling to the identified storage system via a network using a network protocol further comprises coupling to the identified storage subsystem using TCP/IP connectivity.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the initiating execution of the web initiable storage function further comprises authenticating a requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the initiating execution of the web initiable storage function further comprises encrypting data provided to the requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the initiating execution of the web initiable storage function further comprises breaking a volume into junks of a predetermined size for later merging to form the volume at a requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       20 . A program storage device, comprising: 
 program instructions executable by a processing device to perform operations for performing a remote storage activity, the operations comprising:    identifying a storage subsystem having a web services interface for providing access to a web initiable storage function; and    coupling to the identified storage system via a network using a network protocol;    initiating execution of the web initiable storage function.    
   
   
       21 . The program storage device of  claim 20 , wherein the identifying a storage subsystem further comprises: 
 sending a query to a central registry requesting information regarding storage subsystems having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions; and    receiving a response identifying a storage subsystem having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions.    
   
   
       22 . The program storage device of  claim 20  further comprising publishing by a storage subsystem at a registry a web services interface identifying web initiable storage functions.  
   
   
       23 . The program storage device of  claim 22  further comprising recording web service interfaces published by storage subsystems.  
   
   
       24 . The program storage device of  claim 20  further comprising recording web service interfaces published by storage subsystems.  
   
   
       25 . The program storage device of  claim 24 , wherein the identifying a storage subsystem further comprises: 
 receiving a query at the registry requesting information regarding storage subsystems having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions; and    sending a response identifying a storage subsystem having a web services interface for providing access to storage functions based upon the recorded web services interfaces published by storage subsystems.    
   
   
       26 . The program storage device of  claim 20 , wherein the initiating execution of the web initiable storage function further comprises authenticating a requesting storage subsystem and encrypting data provided to the requesting storage subsystem.  
   
   
       27 . The program storage device of  claim 20 , wherein the initiating execution of the web initiable storage function further comprises breaking a volume into junks of a predetermined size for later merging to form the volume at a requesting storage subsystem.